Did Wall Street cause the mess we are in? Should Washington place stronger regulations on the financial industry? Can we lower unemployment rates by controlling the free market? Answer: no. Not only is free-market capitalism good for the economy, it is our only hope for recovery. As the nation’s longest-serving CEO of one of the top 25 financial institutions, John Allison has had a unique inside view of the events leading up to the financial crisis.

Free Market Revolution: How Ayn Rand’s Ideas Can End Big Government

The rise of the Tea Party and the 2010 election results revealed that tens of millions of Americans are alarmed by big government but skeptical that anything can or will be done to stop the growth of the state. In Free Market Revolution, the keepers of Ayn Rand’s legacy argue that the answer lies in Rand’s pioneering philosophy of capitalism and self-interest—a philosophy that more and more people are turning to for answers.

In Defense of Selfishness: Why the Code of Self-Sacrifice Is Unjust and Destructive

In Defense of Selfishness refutes widespread misconceptions about the meaning of selfishness and of altruism. Basing his arguments on Ayn Rand's ethics of rational self-interest, Schwartz demonstrates that genuine selfishness is not exemplified by the brutal plundering of an Attila the Hun or the conniving duplicity of a Bernard Madoff. To the contrary such people are acting against their actual long-range interests.

The DIM Hypothesis: Why the Lights of the West Are Going Out

In his groundbreaking and controversial book The DIM Hypothesis, Dr. Leonard Peikoff casts a penetrating new light on the process of human thought and thereby on Western culture and history. In this far-reaching study, Peikoff identifies the three methods people use to integrate concrete data into a whole, as when connecting diverse experiments by a scientific theory, separate laws into a constitution, or single events into a story.

Human Action: A Treatise on Economics

Human Action is the most important book on political economy you will ever own. It was (and remains) the most comprehensive, systematic, forthright, and powerful defense of the economics of liberty ever written. This is the Scholar's Edition: accept no substitute. You will treasure this volume. The Scholar's Edition is the original, unaltered treatise (originally published in 1949) that shaped a generation of Austrians and made possible the intellectual movement that is leading the global charge for free markets.

I Am John Galt: Today's Heroic Innovators Building the World and the Villainous Parasites Destroying It

John Galt, the fictional character from Ayn Rand's best-selling novel Atlas Shrugged has come to embody the individualist capitalist who acts in his own enlightened self interest, and in doing so lifts the world around him. Some of today's most successful CEOs, journalists, sports figures, actors, and thinkers have led their lives according to Galt's (i.e., Rand's) philosophy. Now, in I Am John Galt, these inspiring stories are gathered with the keen insight and analysis of well-known market commentator Donald Luskin and business writer Andrew Greta.

What Has Government Done to Our Money?: and The Case for a 100 Percent Gold Dollar

The Mises Institute is pleased to present this audio edition of Rothbard's most famous monetary essay - the one that has influenced two generations of economists, investors, and business professionals. The Mises Institute has united this book with its natural complement: a detailed reform proposal for a 100 percent gold dollar. "The Case for a 100 Percent Gold Dollar" was written a decade before the last vestiges of the gold standard were abolished.

Killing Reagan

Just two months into his presidency, Ronald Reagan lay near death after a gunman's bullet came within inches of his heart. His recovery was nothing short of remarkable -- or so it seemed. But Reagan was grievously injured, forcing him to encounter a challenge that few men ever face. Could he silently overcome his traumatic experience while at the same time carrying out the duties of the most powerful man in the world?

Meltdown: A Look at Why the Economy Tanked and Government Bailouts Will Make Things Worse

The media tells us that "deregulation" and "unfettered free markets" have wrecked our economy and will continue to make things worse without a heavy dose of federal regulation. But the real blame lies elsewhere. In Meltdown, best-selling author Thomas E. Woods, Jr., unearths the real causes behind the collapse of housing values and the stock market---and it turns out the culprits reside more in Washington than on Wall Street.

Real Dissent: A Libertarian Sets Fire to the Index Card of Allowable Opinion

Nothing makes traditional left and right kiss and make up faster than when they're faced with an articulate libertarian. Avert your eyes from this dangerous extremist, citizen! Government is composed of wise public servants who innocently pursue the common good! In Real Dissent, Tom Woods demolishes some of the toughest critics of libertarianism in his trademark way.

The Moral Case for Fossil Fuels

For decades environmentalists have told us that using fossil fuels is a self-destructive addiction that will destroy our planet. Yet by every measure of human well-being, from life expectancy to clean water to climate safety, life has been getting better and better. How can this be? The explanation is that we usually hear only one side of the story. We're taught to think only of the negatives of fossil fuels, their risks and side effects, but not their positives.

Don't Hurt People and Don't Take Their Stuff: A Libertarian Manifesto

>i>Don't Hurt People and Don't Take Their Stuff is a rational yet passionate argument that defends the principles upon which America was founded - principles shared by citizens across the political spectrum. The Constitution grants each American the right to self-determination, to be protected from others whose actions are destructive to their lives and property.

The Fatal Conceit: The Errors of Socialism

Hayek gives the main arguments for the free-market case and presents his manifesto on the "errors of socialism." Hayek argues that socialism has, from its origins, been mistaken on factual, and even on logical, grounds and that its repeated failures in the many different practical applications of socialist ideas that this century has witnessed were the direct outcome of these errors. He labels as the "fatal conceit" the idea that "man is able to shape the world around him according to his wishes."

The Road to Serfdom

Originally published in 1944, The Road to Serfdom has profoundly influenced many of the world's great leaders, from Orwell and Churchill in the mid-'40s, to Reagan and Thatcher in the '80s. The book offers persuasive warnings against the dangers of central planning, along with what Orwell described as "an eloquent defense of laissez-faire capitalism".

The Voice of Reason: Essays in Objectivist Thought

In the years between her first public lecture in 1961 and her last in 1981, Ayn Rand spoke and wrote about topics as different as education, medicine, Vietnam, and the death of Marilyn Monroe. In The Voice of Reason, these pieces are gathered together in book form for the first time. Written in the last decades of Rand's life, they reflect a life lived on principle, a probing mind, and a passionate intensity. With them are five essays by Leonard Peikoff, Rand's longtime associate and literary executor.

Currency Wars: The Making of the Next Global Crises

In 1971, President Nixon imposed national price controls and took the United States off the gold standard, an extreme measure intended to end an ongoing currency war that had destroyed faith in the U.S. dollar. Today we are engaged in a new currency war, and this time the consequences will be far worse than those that confronted Nixon. Currency wars are one of the most destructive and feared outcomes in international economics.

The Conscience of the Constitution: The Declaration of Independence and the Right to Liberty

Timothy Sandefur's insightful book provides a dramatic new challenge to the status quo of constitutional law and argues a vital truth: our Constitution was written not to empower democracy, but to secure liberty. Yet the overemphasis on democracy by today's legal community - rather than the primacy of liberty, as expressed in the Declaration of Independence - has helped expand the scope of government power at the expense of individual rights.

The Death of Money: The Coming Collapse of the International Monetary System

The international monetary system has collapsed three times in the past hundred years, in 1914, 1939, and 1971. Each collapse was followed by a period of tumult: War, civil unrest, or significant damage to the stability of the global economy. Now James Rickards, the acclaimed author of Currency Wars, shows why another collapse is rapidly approaching - and why this time, nothing less than the institution of money itself is at risk.

The Great Deformation: The Corruption of Capitalism in America

David Stockman was the architect of the Reagan Revolution that was meant to restore sound money principles to the U.S. government. It failed, derailed by politics, special interests, welfare, and warfare. Stockman describes how the working of free markets and democracy has long been under threat in America and provides a surprising, nonpartisan catalog of the corrupters and defenders. His analysis shows how both liberal and neoconservative interference in markets has proved damaging and often dangerous.

Socialism: An Economic and Sociological Analysis

Published in 1922 during those dark and dreary years of socialism’s near-complete triumph, Socialism stunned the socialist world. Mises has given us a profoundly important treatise that assaults socialism in all its guises, a work that discusses every major aspect of socialism and leaves no stone unturned. A few of the numerous topics discussed include the success of socialist ideas; life under socialism: art and literature, science and journalism; economic calculation under socialism; the ideal of equality; and Marx’s theory of monopolies.

Wealth of Nations

This classic statement of economic liberalism or the policy of laissez-faire was first published in 1776. It is an engrossing analysis of the economic facts of life. Several fundamental principles, many of which are now referred to as axioms, were introduced in this work, the division of labor, supply-and-demand, and free market capitalism being among the most obvious.

Capitalism and Freedom

Milton Friedman argues that the appropriate role of competitive capitalism occurs when the majority of our economic activity flows through private enterprise within a free-market environment. This is unequivocally the most effective device for achieving economic freedom, as well as the necessary condition in which political freedom can be attained. Friedman's arguments are positively bold, enlightening, and impacting. Among the specific topics he addresses are "The Control of Money", "Fiscal Policy", "Capitalism and Discrimination", and "Social Welfare Measures".

Meltdown Iceland: How the Global Financial Crisis Bankrupted an Entire Country

It is a truism that when America sneezes, Europe catches a cold. The subprime mortgage crisis, which began in America in 2007, unleashed a veritable epidemic of financial ill health all over the world. All European countries were affected, and the developing world also felt a chill. However it was Iceland, a tiny volcanic outcrop in the North Atlantic whose population of 300,000 had the highest GDP and counted itself the happiest in the world, which caught the worst cold. It has nearly killed them.

Free to Choose: A Personal Statement

Milton Friedman and his wife, Rose, teamed up to write this most convincing and readable guide, which illustrates the crucial link between Adam Smith's capitalism and the free society. They show how freedom has been eroded and prosperity undermined through the rapid growth of governmental agencies, laws, and regulations.

Objectivism: The Philosophy of Ayn Rand

This brilliantly conceived book is based on a lecture course given by Dr. Leonard Peikoff in 1976 entitled, "The Philosophy of Objectivism". The lectures were attended by Ayn Rand, who helped prepare them and who also joined Peikoff in answering questions.

Publisher's Summary

Did Wall Street cause the mess we are in? Should Washington place stronger regulations on the financial industry? Can we lower unemployment rates by controlling the free market? Answer: no. Not only is free-market capitalism good for the economy, it is our only hope for recovery. As the nation’s longest-serving CEO of one of the top 25 financial institutions, John Allison has had a unique inside view of the events leading up to the financial crisis. He has seen what the government has done to the real estate market and how government regulations only make matters worse. Now in this controversial wake-up call of a book, he has given us a solution.

With shrewd insight, alarming insider details, and practical advice for today’s leaders, this electrifying analysis is nothing less than a call to arms for a nation on the brink. In the end, you’ll understand why it’s so important to put the “free” back into free market.

About the author: John Allison is the former chairman and CEO of Branch Banking & Trust Corporation. He currently serves as a distinguished professor at the Wake Forest University School of Business. He is an inductee of the North Carolina Business Hall of Fame.

A lot has been written about the Financial Crisis, but nothing comes closer to an analysis of all the factors and their relative contribution to the crisis. What is more, John Allison's book is easy to understand for anyone, with or without a background in finance, and offers the necessary solutions to prevent a recurrence.

You will be surprised to learn that the top 3 culprits aren't the ones touted by the pols and the media, but if you really think it through, you'll agree.

Would you listen to The Financial Crisis and the Free Market Cure again? Why?

No--most of it was informative and interesting but he ended up talking about his other views, outside of banking, which were a bit weird

Would you be willing to try another book from John Allison? Why or why not?

NO--the banking part was interesting, even when he talked about his own bank, but the rest was boring

Any additional comments?

Most of the book was interesting, but seemed to be poorly edited, especially at the end. At one point the author pointed to poor education for minorities (when talking about minimum wage problems) and said that they could not get jobs so they ended up dealing drugs and then got thrown into jail. This should have been edited out or modified because it sounded very strange.

For years I had known the government and irresponsible people were the cause of the financial meltdown; I just never knew the details. Such a great explanation and history of events by someone who has been there and come out the other side. Cynics and conspiracists will most likely say this book is propaganda, but they are just socialist like Obama. If you want businesses to compete and grow, leave them alone and let them fend for themselves. The market (the people of the United States) will determine who succeeds and who fails.

If you could sum up The Financial Crisis and the Free Market Cure in three words, what would they be?

Of all the books I have read about The Financial Crisis that hit us in 2008, FREE MARKET CURE is hands down the BEST! Along with spelling out why it happened, John Allison also discusses the issues that our country needs to address to further promote our economic prosperity. GREAT BOOK!

What did you love best about The Financial Crisis and the Free Market Cure?

The insight and analysis of the author. Also his deep understanding of economics and free market dynamics.

Who was your favorite character and why?

N/A

What does Alan Sklar bring to the story that you wouldn’t experience if you just read the book?

Superb intonation and measured narration.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

I bought 16 copies to send to friends and associates!

Any additional comments?

An incredibly good analysis of why free markets are the solution to economic stagnation and abuse. Our government has become so corrupted by special interests, on both sides of the aisle, that the true value of capitalism is being suffocated. The ignorance of basic economics by the masses adds to the problem.

Yes. Allison does a good job clearly explaining the pro & cons of two economic ideologies (Socialism and Capitalism) providing the reader with an understanding or education to see the political and social events playing out in our nation

Who do you think would benefit most from listening to The Financial Crisis and the Free Market Cure?

People looking for basic information about the recent financial crises who do not know much about it and have limited knowledge of business workings

Any additional comments?

Great book for beginners. Author is former CEO of BB&T so he certainly has a leaning towards defending the bankers/corporate world and demonizing the government. Not to say he is not right on 99% of what he discusses but I wouldn't call it a completely objective assessment of everything

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